Indole-3-Carbinol

Name: Indole-3-carbinolSynonyms: 3-Hydroxymethylindole; 3-Indolemethanol; Indole-3-methanolMolecular Formula: C9H9NOMolecular Weight: 147.18CAS Number: 700-06-1EINECS: 211-836-2Indole-3-carbinol is produced by the breakdown of the glucosinolate glucobrassicin, which can be found at relatively high levels in cruciferous vegetables. Indole-3-carbinol is the subject of on-going Biomedical research into its possible anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, and anti-atherogenic effects. Research on indole-3-carbinol has been conducted primarily using laboratory animals and cultured cells. Limited and inconclusive human studies have been reported. A recent review of the biomedical research literature found that "evidence of an inverse association between cruciferous vegetable intake and breast or prostate cancer in humans is limited and inconsistent" and "larger randomized controlled trials are needed" to determine if supplemental indole-3-carbinol has health benefits.

Indole-3-carbinol occurs naturally in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and kale. Indole-3-carbinol is also widely available in supplement form.